Simon Bott-Suzuki

Dr. Bott-Suzuki investigates plasmas generated using high current (>100kA) capacitor-driven devices through both experimental and computational studies. The high plasma densities and magnetic fields created conditions of interest in many areas of high energy density physics, which includes the drive towards Inertial Confinement Fusion and subsequent fusion power generation. Such plasmas also have interesting hydrodynamic and magneto-hydrodynamic flow properties and can be used to study, for example, shock formation in radiatively cooled flows, and the propagation of plasma jets relevant to astrophysical objects. Dr Bott-Suzuki carries out his research as part of both national and international collaborations, as well as developing new devices and experimental approaches on the UC San Diego campus. He is particularly interested in pursuing ways in which pulsed power plasmas and devices can be utilized to further understand broader plasma and physics issues.

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Simon Bott-Suzuki received the MPhys and Ph.D. degrees from Sheffield University, UK in 1999 and 2003 respectively. His Ph.D. thesis work investigated low density deuterium discharges for UV lighting applications. He then moved to the Plasma Physics Group at Imperial College London to research pulsed-power plasmas for Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF). He joined the Center for Energy Research at UC San Diego in 2006, where he is presently an Assistant Research Scientist and leads the Pulsed Plasma Physics Group. Dr. Bott-Suzuki is also a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Applied & Engineering Physics Department at Cornell University.